Auto Repair and Paint & Body Shops are prevalent. Auto Repair Shops can be stand-alone or associated with industrial parks, gas stations or automobile dealerships. Paint & body shops are stand-alone or associated with industrial parks and automobile dealerships. Environmental concerns associated with these facilities include the use of hazardous materials, such as paints, solvents, etc., the use and storage of petroleum products, in-ground hydraulic lifts, parts cleaners, floor drains, oil/water separators and drainfields.

Potential Discharge Sources include:

1. Parts cleaners containing mineral spirits or Chlorinated Solvents.
2. Paint & body shops store and use thinners and paints, and store wastes generated through spray gun cleaning, waste paints, and solvents.
3. Waste oil and anti-freeze that are stored in drums or underground or above-ground tanks.
4. Overflow wastes from un-covered waste drums exposed to the outside elements.
5. In-ground hydraulic lifts with underground hydraulic fluid reservoirs. Often the lifts malfunction, and most common remedies include pouring more hydraulic fluid into “the open wound”.
6. Floor drains which discharge to oil/water separators. Washing of floors or pouring compounds down the floor result in discharge to an oil/water separator. Oil/water separators can be self-contained with no discharge, baffled with a discharge to the surrounding ground, or discharge directly to a drainfield.
7. Septic systems. Discharges from paint brush or parts cleaning in sinks connected to septic tanks.
8. Paint booths can discharge particulates or vapors; although most are equipped with filters.
9. Surface discharges that stain soil or distress vegetation.

If a service shop or paint & body shop is to be operated in the same manner after purchase, consideration should be given to assure that the existing facility is in compliance with all hazardous waste regulations, governmental permits, and storage, use and disposal requirements.

If contamination issues are unknown or unresolved, a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment on the service shop or paint & body shop involving soil and groundwater testing should be conducted.